Maybelline The Nudes Palette: Second Impression + Colour Combinations

Hi everyone! So I thought I'd give an update on how I've been liking the Maybelline The Nudes palette, and some of the colours I like to pair together.

First of all, I pretty much use this palette everyday, that's how great it is. The colours are so versatile, easy to apply / blend, and easy to mix together. The only negative comment I have is their staying power isn't the best, but it is better when used with an eyeshadow primer of any kind (I use one that came with an NYC palette, but I also recommend Stay Don't Stray by Benefit).

There are a bunch of different ideas and pairings on the back of the palette, but I have found some that are different from the given suggestions. Since I don't have a lot of time in the morning, I just apply two shades- the lighter one all over the lid and the darker one in the crease.

Look #1: Natural with some depth

This one is about as natural as it gets: a shimmery champagne colour all over the lid, and a nice light brown to add some depth to the crease. Add some mascara and your favourite lipstick and you will be looking awake for your early morning class!

Look #2: Gold Shimmer

One of the main reasons I bought this palette was because I wanted a nice gold colour; in the past, they had either been not pigmented enough, too orange, or too shimmery. This one is...just right! Paired with a medium toned brown in the crease (which is very pigmented), mascara, and red lipstick, this is a really nice change to your usual everyday look. I'm not too big on eyeliner, but to transition to nighttime I would put some on (either brown or black) to intensify the look a bit more.

Look #3: Soft browns

This look compliments one of my other favourites that uses two brown shades from another Maybelline palette (it's called Designer Chocolates, if you're wondering). I have dark brown eyes, so these two shades just enhance them a little more. Sometimes I do add brown eyeliner, but usually I just put on some mascara and any lipstick to complete the look. 

These three combinations are probably my go-to looks for everyday! I'm really loving this palette, good job Maybelline! 

Urban Decay Black Magic First Impression

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I thought I would share my first impression of the Urban Decay Black Magic eyeliner set that I received for Christmas this year.

So this is what the set looks like. I believe it was limited edition because my I cannot find it online at Sephora anymore. I was sent an email back at the beginning of the month that listed it as a gift idea at the same time I was replying to an email from my cousin, so I mentioned it to her (because we like to talk about makeup, naturally) and she took the hint and now here it is! :) 

A few months ago I bought my first eyeliner from Urban Decay in the shade Psychedelic Sister, a rich purple colour that I absolutely love, so I was so excited to receive this set!

This set (I keep wanting to type palette because I'm used to talking about eyeshadow :P) comes with four double ended eyeliners, all different colours. 

Here are all the swatches of the colours (L-R):

LSD (sparkly grey-blue) + Perversion (deep, rich black)

Tornado (dark purple) + Black Market (dark grey)

Smoke (light grey) + Black Velvet (black with a slight brownish undertone when you really look at it)

(bottom row): Demolition (medium brown) + Zero (black-brown)

So far I love all the different colours! They go on easily, actually, so easily that I accidentally broke the tip of the purple one while swatching it! Oops...

As you probably noticed, each pencil has a black shade and a different colour on the other end, hence the name Black Magic for the set. The only two I have a hard time distinguishing are Zero and Black Velvet, as they both look quite similar. If you look at the two carefully you'll find that Zero is a bit lighter and less harsh than Black Velvet. 

As it was limited edition I cannot really recommend this set, but I can recommend Urban Decay eyeliners in general- have fun testing them out in store, as there are so many shades to choose from!

Review: Maybelline "The Nudes" Eyeshadow Palette

Basically, I saw two video reviews of this palette, read some online ratings, and decided I needed to have it. 

Maybelline "The Nudes" Eyeshadow Palette, $15, Shoppers

This is what the front looks like. The packaging is super sleek, and the palette is compact enough to slip in a purse or carry-on for travel. There are 12 shades ranging from matte to shimmery, all in the neutral colour family. 

Here's a more close-up look of the shades. As you can see, I've already been experimenting with them! So far I like the shimmery gold shade the best (bottom row, third from left)- I've been looking for a gold eyeshadow that's not too bronze or sparkly, and this is it! The shades are pretty well pigmented, which is good for drugstore quality (usually I'm always layering on the shadow), and they blend easily and work well together for a ton of different looks. I've seen people compare this palette to the Urban Decay Naked ones, and from what I can see, the colours are pretty similar (I don't have one, so I can't be too sure on it). So if you're looking for a cheaper alternative, this may be good for you!

This is what the back of the palette looks like. As I mentioned, there are so many different looks you can create, and these helpful pairings on the back make that easy. Basically they've divided it up into quads, trios, or duos, depending on the look you're going for, and then they also say where to put each shade. I can't wait to try out all the colour combinations, and maybe even create some of my own!

What do you think of this palette? Let me know!

Easter Outfit Ideas

I'm baaackkkk!!!! Exams are done so I am now fully able to do as much blogging and fashion related things as I like for four whole months. To start off, I have some outfit ideas for Easter, whether you're going out to dinner, going to church, spending time with family, or just really want to look your best! You may recognize some pieces from earlier outfits, but that's just because they're some of my most worn items!

Outfits 1 & 2: Church

Blouse: Bluenotes

Pants: Dynamite

Necklace: This & That Axesoir

Shirt: H&M

Skirt: Jacob

Bracelets (left to right): Accessorize, Forever 21, Justice Clothing

I put these two outfit ideas together because they are both perfect for Sunday morning church. For the first option, I really like statement necklaces at the moment, but nothing too big and chunky, so I find that this one is a nice balance between the two. The second option is a bit more dressy because of the flower / ruffle detailing at the neckline. I opted for a few bracelets instead of a necklace for this one. Also, I forgot about tights, but a solid black pair would do the trick here! For shoes I would recommend some basic black heels for both options. 

Outfit 3: Family Time

Dress: American Eagle

Cardigan: Old Navy

Bangles: Forever 21

I bet you were wondering how long it would take me to put something floral in this post :P Now that it is finally spring, florals are definitely the way to go, especially for Easter. I love the corset detailing on this dress, not to mention that it is very well made. I paired it with a pink cardigan to brighten up the navy, and the bangles add some fun to the look. I would add some pink or navy flats to complete this outfit.  

Outfit 4: Dinnertime 

 

Top: American Eagle

Skirt: Simons

Necklace: Forever 21

My second favourite thing: lace. Of course I had to include it! This top is gorgeous, I've worn it out so many times and gotten a lot of compliments. The shirt is not too long, so the cute bow waistband of this bright blue skirt still peaks through. The skirt, despite its short length, has some great pluses: it's nice and thick, and, it has pockets! For shoes both heels and flats would work well with this outfit. 

Bonus: Easter Extras

I am currently loving Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh perfume. The best way to describe this scent would be...fresh! I know, descriptive, right? There's also a slight floral undertone. Seriously, how much more spring can you fit in a bottle decorated with flowers? :) My next must-have is this matte eye shadow palette from Too Faced. It has a bit of everything: browns, blues, and purples. I pretty much wear these shades all the time!

So there you have it! Hope these outfits gave you some ideas on how to look cute this Easter weekend! Happy Easter everyone! :)

Makeup Update

Recently I've been cleaning up my makeup collection and adding some new things, so I thought I'd share some of the new products I either purchased or received for Christmas. Also, two weeks ago some of my relatives came over for a post-Christmas get together and my cousin brought some makeup that she didn't use anymore and thought I would like.

Maybelline Expertwear Eye Shadow in Designer Chocolates
Maybelline Expertwear Eye Shadow in Charcoal Smokes
I've been meaning to get more of these eye shadows because there's so many combinations and different looks to create! My makeup has taken a really basic and boring routine over the past few months, so I'm excited to try out new looks with these!

 Loreal Infinite Wear Eye Shadow Quad in Enchanted Bouquet
Marcelle Wet & Dry Eye Shadow Duo in Cosmos
Again, some more eye shadow from my cousin. If I don't have a lot of time in the morning I usually just swipe on some pink eye shadow and mascara. I've tried out both of these already and the pigmentation isn't bad; though I'm going to start using eye shadow primer more often now (see below for my take on that!).

                                                                      

Liplicious Plump Glass (by Bath & Body Works)

My aunt always gets me lip gloss with her gift and every year I love it! This time it's a little different because it gives your lips more fullness (I put it on and my lips started tingling hehe). Also it smells like vanilla, a scent that I love!

Benefit Primping with the Stars All-Time Greatest "Fake-Its" Kit
1. Stay Don't Stray Eye Shadow Primer
2. the Pore-fessional pro balm to minimize pores
3. Some kind of a gorgeous foundation faker
4. bene-tint
5. girl meets pearl liquid pearl for face
6. they're real! mascara
So far I've only tried the eye shadow primer and my only comment is why have I not tried this before??? It makes my eye shadow appear more vibrant and it stays that way throughout the day! Love it! I've heard good things about all the other products as well, so I am excited to try them out!

 Clinique High Impact Mascara

I got this as a sample with a skin care set I got for Christmas and I think it is the best mascara I have ever tried! I have to admit, I've always thought why bother with high end mascaras when they have to be thrown out after six months, right? But this mascara has me hooked. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara or the Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara, but there's definitely a difference between those and this Clinique one, the most noticeable being I don't have to use as much mascara to get evenly coated, long lashes. Also it doesn't clump, which is always a plus!

NYC IndividualEyes 938 Union Square Created for Brown Eyes
I bought this eye shadow quad on a whim one day after work, and I am very pleased with it so far! It comes with a primer (my new favourite product!) and an illuminator on the side, and then four different eye shadows. There are instructions on how to create the look using all the colours, which is always handy. I especially like how the main brown shade (second from the bottom) is matte, and the others have some shimmer.




Revlon Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon
Over the summer I bought my first Revlon Lip Butter in the shade Juicy Papaya (a coral-y orange colour) and since then I've been wanting another. I like coloured lip balms because I'm not a huge fan of lipstick, yet I'm starting to move away from lip gloss, so this is the perfect in between! This particular shade is a red with pink undertones, and it is pretty pigmented so you don't need a lot. It also goes on really smoothly, which I guess is why it's called a lip "butter!"

Spring Makeup

Spring Makeup by mariathefashionista featuring stila eye-liner

Stila eye liner
stilacosmetics.com

Nyx lipstick
urbanoutfitters.com

Turquoise and Purple Makeup Look

I haven't done a makeup look in a long time so I thought I'd share my other favourite look (besides the purple and gold one): purple and turquoise. I also originally saw this in a very old issue of Seventeen (I still have the page somewhere), but I switched it up a bit, mainly since I'm not a huge fan of bright green eyeshadow / liner.
I remember the first time I wore this look I had to match it with my outfit so I wore a turquoise polo with a grey cardigan that had a purple argyle pattern on the front. Nowadays I wear it to glam up an otherwise plain jeans and t-shirt. Anyways, enough of me rambling on; grab your makeup brushes and let's get started!

Products used:
Rimmel London Eyeshadow Quad in Romantic Cool
Loreal High Intensity Pigments Bright Eyeshadow Duo in Showy
Gosh Kohl Eyeliner in Black
Covergirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara (number 845)

1. With a small eyeshadow brush, apply the lilac shade in the Rimmel quad all over the eyelid. This eyeshadow, in contrast with the turquoise, isn't very pigmented, so you may need to pack it on.
2. Using a fluffy crease brush, apply the turquoise shade of the Loreal duo to the crease of your eye. Warning!!!! (okay, it's not that dramatic) When they say high intensity pigments, they mean it. Tap off most of the shadow before applying it (we're going for a subtle daytime look here).
3. Take a small angled brush and apply more of the turquoise shadow (again, tap it off first) to your lower lash line.
4. Line your upper lashes with black eyeliner (you can smudge it out a little if you want).
5. Curl your lashes and apply mascara.
6. Finish off the look by applying your favourite light pink lip gloss.

I couldn't find a good photo on the Web, (so I decided to post random photos of the products...) but I assure you, it looks good! If you try it, post a picture and let me know how it went!

 

Fall Makeup Look

I'm back after a long hiatus that was filled with reading, studying, more studying, and midterms. I hate to say so, but I even broke one of my own fashion rules by showing up to class in sweatpants (gasp)!
This week I did have some time to experiment with some new makeup looks, and this combination was my favourite. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of what the look looked like on me, but I have some similar pictures and I'll list the details on the products I used.

Again, these are just random pictures I found on the Internet. The look consists of a golden bronze in the inner corner to about the middle of the eyelid, and then purple from the middle to the outer corner. I originally got the inspiration for this look from an old issue of Seventeen magazine (I don't remember exactly which issue).
Here's a list of products that I used:
Rimmel London eyeshadow quad in Romantic Cool
Prestige eyeshadow in Golden Retriever
Loreal One Sweep Eyeshadow in playful for brown eyes
Rimmel London soft kohl kajal eyeliner pencil in Purple Passion
Covergirl Lashblast Luxe Mascara (number 845)
Now for the look:
1. Mix the lightest shade (an off-white) in the Rimmel quad with the Prestige eyeshadow on a medium-sized eyeshadow brush and sweep it from the inner corner to about the middle of the lid. Do the same underneath the eye.
2. Line the lash line (middle to outer corner) with the purple eyeliner. You can also line the rest of the bottom lash line, but don't be too harsh. Don't line the water line, like the picture on the right. The look we're going for here is a subtle, everyday look.
3. Take a small smudging brush and cover it with the darkest purple shade in the Loreal trio and sweep it over the liner and up to the crease. 
4. Take the small eyeshadow brush and blend any harsh lines (the gold should blend into the purple).
5. Curl your lashes and apply one to two coats of mascara.
6. Finish off the look with clear (or light pink) lip gloss.

I love this look for fall because it blends together two of my favourite colours to use on my lids. To switch it up you can put the gold all over your lid and the purple in the crease and line with black liner.
Stay stylish (even with your makeup!)

Cool Hair: Book Review

This book, entitled "Cool Hair: A Teenager's Guide to the Best Beauty Secrets on Hair, Makeup, and Style," presents a wide variety of information on hair types and styles, as well as a chapter on skin and makeup. However, I did not come across anything on personal style or fashion, just advice here and there.
At first glance, this book seemed a little outdated. When I read that it was published in 2003, I thought, okay, it's not too old. That changed after I read the first few chapters. The book gives off a strong vibe that teenagers should experiment with their hair as much as possible- dye it, perm it, curl it, straighten it- because it will grow back. It overemphasized the fact that teens should be a little rebellious and try new things, which gave the writing style a dated feel.
Overall, this book did provide a great deal of information. It went through the different hair types and recommended new styles to go for and products to use and avoid. It stressed the importance of finding a good stylist who knows what will work (and what won't) with your hair.
The other sections of the book provided tips for healthy skin and the basics for makeup. It stressed the importance of a good diet to maintain a healthy complexion (this also goes for great hair). There was a breakdown of skin types and what products to use for each, as well as a section on dealing with acne. The chapter on makeup listed the essentials for a makeup bag. This includes foundation, concealer, powder, blush, lipstick (or gloss), eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, as well as brushes, a pair of tweezers, an eyelash curler, and Q-Tips.  There was also a quick run through of how to apply your makeup in the morning.
Overall, "Cool Hair" was a little outdated, but it did have some essential tips and tricks that even I forget! The main theme of this book was that if you look good, you feel good, which I believe is true.
Stay tuned for more book reviews!

Smokey Eye Look and Outfit

I recently found a simple picture of a smokey eye, but with a subtle twist: jade green eyeliner on the bottom lash line. I find that it tones down the boldness of a smokey eye and adds a pop of colour, since the other colours used are in the grey colour palette. There is also a hint of purple on the outer corner of the eye, which looks great with the grey and green.
Since the eyes are so dramatic in this look, it is always best to keep the rest of the face neutral- here I showed a light pink, almost nude lipstick.
As for the outfit, I decided to go with a prom-inspired A-line dress with a neat flower/vine pattern. The burgundy accessories complement the waistband and trim of the dress.